01.19.08
By-Proxy Lawsuit and Conflicting Interests?
Proxy mastery at its worst
About four of weeks ago we showed how Microsoft is hurting Google. It hurts it by proxy, not just directly. Do remember that Steve Ballmer equates Google to Linux in terms of its severity as a #1 threat to Microsoft. Here is the latest development in Viacom’s lawsuit against Google.
The lawsuit was filed in march last year, and in May, Google hired Phil Beck, a partner with Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott LLP, to lead its defense. Beck has represented George W. Bush in Florida during the 2000 presidential election, and Microsoft during its anti-trust trial.
It’s rather interesting that Google hired one who defended Microsoft, especially given the fact that Microsoft has an ‘anti-Google axis’ with Viacom (see link at the top for context, details and compelling evidence). A replacement might indeed be necessary due to the past burden and possible connections. █
Related articles:
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.